Privatizing Cal Poly? For or Against?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
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<p>An article came out recently that discussed Cal Poly administration entertaining the possibility of Cal Poly leaving the CSU and going private (or semi-private like Cornell). </p>

<p>What do you think? Good idea? Or worst insanity ever conceived? </p>

<p>[Cal</a> Poly administrators working to divorce the state - Cal Coast News](<a href=“http://calcoastnews.com/2011/11/cal-poly-administrators-working-to-divorce-the-state/]Cal”>http://calcoastnews.com/2011/11/cal-poly-administrators-working-to-divorce-the-state/)</p>

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<p>I personally think Cal Poly should stick with the state of CA no matter what. But perhaps enact a compromise of sorts of being semi-funded by the state, private funding/donation, and students. </p>

<p>Or how about finally leaving the much more poorly funded CSU system and joining the UCs? An idea that has floated around for the past 20 years.</p>

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<p>Very interesting articles. I think that administrators are looking into every alternative to find money and there is a general recognition that the the State of CA can no longer afford to provide higher education in the same way as the past. I think that Mr. Koob was thinking out loud against his better judgement.</p>

<p>For me as a parent, I do not look forward to increases in tuition. As a businessman, I’d like to see the school getting more corporate money and support. Bringing industry in will bring in more internships, jobs and a closer relationship with the real world. Will it affect independence? Absolutely it will. But which is worse? Bankruptcy or general decline or a brighter future with more jobs, money , support, etc…</p>

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<p>I would rather see Cal Poly join the UC system personally. Just because it is a better school than most UCs (especially Engineering, Architecture, Landscape Architecture, and Business) and it deserves the recognition. On the other hand, for the sake of my wallet, I’d be happy if Cal Poly stayed being “a UC school at a Cal State price”. As for CP being privatized, I really wouldn’t be all too thrilled, but that’s just me.</p>

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<p>I would want Cal Poly to join the UC system if I get accepted there, otherwise it doesn’t matter to me. Is there a serious possibility that Cal Poly would join UC and how would it affect the prestige of the university?</p>

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<p>This talk of ‘privatization’ is hyperbole. This vice provost is simply taking the continuing state cuts to what he views as their conclusion. The problem with this reasoning is that, even if we received almost no state funding, we would still be a state school. After all, who owns the lands and buildings we are sitting on?</p>

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<p>I would only partially agree with bjornredtail. </p>

<p>I agree that CA owns Cal Poly’s land and buildings, obviously. But it is absolutely critical not to forget absolute magnitude of California’s financial crisis. It is beyond disastrous.</p>

<p>With that said, I am sure the state government is considering various unorthodox (even crazy) methods to reduce its deficit. I am certain the state government has thought about ways to reduce/even eliminate higher educational spending if possible.</p>

<p>Therefore, I would not be surprised that the state government actually examined the possibility of having a test case for higher education privatization plan, since no one would dare to privatize a whole system all at once. </p>

<p>And I would not be surprised if Cal Poly seriously considered/volunteered for this test case. When you really think about it, Cal Poly really has reach its natural limits in terms of growth within the CSU, both for academic standards, research, and prestige. Realistically, CP probably will not be able to increase its admission requirements any higher than it is now, precisely because it is a CSU. Also, CP being a CSU always has some “stigma” attached to it, regardless of its veracity. When people rip on Cal Poly, they always say it is just some crappy STATE school. </p>

<p>So with all that said, if CA rejected the idea of SLO becoming a UC, the next logical solution for the administration to consider is to privatize it. One so it can be out of the CSU’s constraints and it can chart its own long term growth strategy (increasing admission standards, creating Phd programs, increasing tuition, etc.), and two I guess the administration feels confident enough that it has what it takes to raise more money on its own than being with the CSU.</p>

<p>Privatizing SLO is technically feasible. SLO can become a non-profit corporation with the state being its largest shareholder. So the land issue is not an issue. Also, the state will have the benefit of seeing if privatization actually works, and still retain “control” of a quasi-private school. </p>

<p>U of Michigan essentially operates as a quasi-private university. And Cornell is state-supported private university. So it has been done before, and done well. </p>

<p>I don’t know, its just a thought, but given how everything is melting down in the world I don’t believe privatization is just a mirage. Just look at the EU/EURO, no one thought it can break up even 2 years ago, but guess what, people are saying (screaming) exactly that today!</p>

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<p>Welp, I know some people that will get knicked in the but if that college becomes a private college because there is a good amount of students here going there because it’s the only financial option available. From Santa Maria to Paso Robles, I know kids who rely on financial aid and affordability. All though, I can’t say we didn’t know this would happen. The college has been changing. Also the north county Cuesta College has been rumored to be bought out and become a private college of some sorts where as the SLO campus could be picked up by Hancock College. </p>

<p>Either way North County Cuesta will be axed soon. </p>

<p>Still, I will have a hard time telling my children about the college I went to. </p>

<p>"SON: Dad, why don’t we have a state school in the area and how was it going to a private college?</p>

<p>DAD: Well son, back in my day the college was a state school with us good working folk students, but then the madness happened and there was no money.</p>

<p>SON: No money?</p>

<p>DAD: Yes no money it was like a gambler who lost all his money. And then when the state was going broke the college decided to privatize and now we have Stanford of the Central Coast.</p>

<p>SON: Wow. Can I go there?</p>

<p>DAD: Maybe…just maybe…"</p>

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<p>[Fee</a> increase approved by Cal Poly students to take effect this fall | The Tribune & SanLuisObispo.com](<a href=“http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2012/03/16/1992475/fee-increase-approved-by-cal-poly.html]Fee”>http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2012/03/16/1992475/fee-increase-approved-by-cal-poly.html)</p>

<p>This is great. A step in the right direction.</p>

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<p>Being a Cal Poly student (graduating in fall quarter), I would not like to see this great school to go private and or to join the UC system. </p>

<p>The school’s already trying its best to maintain itself even with the new “success fee” attached to the tuition fee bill and to tack on more misc. fees that can be passed-on to the students instead. This is an OK idea, afterall, it’s the students that are taking advantage of these facilities. </p>

<p>The second reason is, I used to attend a UC prior to transferring to here. The reason why I left the UC system is because I did not learn anything the years I spent there. Everything was theoretical and during lab time, no one could build a circuit without extensive help from the TAs (ironically the TAs were from CSUs like SJSU and Cal Poly). I do not want to see Cal Poly’s “learn by doing” motto to be converted over to this motto: “well, we taught you enough in the classroom so you can build it on your own if you want.” </p>

<p>The third reason is, even the instructors here (PhDs from Berkeley and UCD) agreed UC programs are lacking, esp. in the undergrad field of engineering.</p>

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<p>I think I was mistaken about wanting Cal Poly to join the UC and I too would want it to keep it’s learn by doing policy because it sounds like something that would work well with my learning style. I think with more money Cal Poly could create many more programs and labs that support learn by doing as well as improving infrastructure. e.g. rec rooms, dorms, lecture halls etc. This would make Cal Poly even more desirable and then Cal Poly could raise admission standards particularly if they were separate from the CSU. This might allow Cal Poly’s engineering department to rise to the level of let’s say Harvey Mudd.</p>

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<p>I talked to some faculty and some city officials and both don’t think it will happen. The privatizing idea was a pipe dream by the former president.</p>

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<p>david12345 – agreed. It will never happen. What will happen is that Cal Poly will have to raise money on its own by necessity to sustain the school. I believe that the state will be giving less and less money to higher public education as time goes on. What this will mean is that as the school’s endowment grows, there will be a gradual shift to more independence. Cal Poly will be able to call the shots in a more autonomous way in the future. This will affect entrance requirements and everything else as well. This will be as close to privatization as it will get and not a bad route to go either.</p>

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<p>The state of CA does not only own the land and the buildings but also all intellectual properties associated with CSSLO. The state will fire whoever has this ridiculous idea.</p>

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<p>The guy quit who had the idea, ha ha. </p>

<p>And I think CP SLO is already effecting their entrance requirements because they have raised more money and do things better than the other CSUs.</p>

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<p>I would be pretty mad if the school joined UC… the UC title is not worth the raise in tuition.</p>

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